People are always asking me about the best time to prune the shrubs they've installed or are maintaining.  For flowering shrubs the answer is easy - prune right after they’re done blooming. Late pruning in this case is bad since you’re removing the next season's flower buds and most of your clients would not be happy about that.

Boxwood (Buxus) and yew (Taxus) are a little different as flowers are not necessary or desired. First and foremost, always use very sharp pruners or shears, to make the pruning easier and reduce damage to the plant. To maintain trimmed forms and hedges you ideally need to shear twice a year. Once in late May or early June after the initial foliar flush, and then a second time around August. This causes the formation of lateral buds which help maintain denser growth. 

Keep in mind that shearing a plant to the same exact size every year causes the outside of the plant to become very dense, leaving the interior bare. Allowing for a slight increase helps delay the need for an extreme renewal pruning or plant replacement. Try not to prune during a drought period, and to prevent foliar freezeback pruning should never occur in late fall or winter. If you’re only going to shear once a year, try to do it around August. 

When shearing hedges, taper them so that the top is narrower than the bottom, so all sides will be exposed to sunlight. This will give you a slightly pyramidal shape. Avoid at all cost the inverted pyramid look, as this even further screens sunlight and eventually kills the bottom.

Both boxwood and yew are very tolerant of shearing and with proper technique will remain attractive and functional in the landscape for many years. 

Native plants have their place in landscaping. It is in native areas. Attempting to force native plants into landscapes in urban areas is difficult for everyone and everything. The plants will have a difficult time being successful in those conditions, and often the property owner and the landscape contractor are not prepared for the amount of maintenance it will take to make this successful. And neither are prepared for the financial commitment to make this successful.

For the last several years there has seemed to be a push to have more natives included in landscapes. To say that I am not a fan of this is not a secret. But it is always nice when someone with Ph.D after their name supports your position. Please read the below article by Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott about how native plants might not be good choice for most landscapes in urban areas.

Take advantage of our industry-leading delivery service! We can deliver your plants, brick, or bulk items right to your jobsite - no need to rent a specialized vehicle - just let us handle it.

For two weeks this July we are offering FREE local delivery. From July 23rd to August 3rd, we will deduct up to $210 from your delivery charge. Our local area is highlighted in yellow on this map, but please check with your salesperson for details. (Click to zoom view)

We have full-size semis and a smaller dump truck and each has easy-to-reach minimums to qualify for a delivery. There may be site access restrictions as well, so plan on discussing your needs with your salesperson so we can service you appropriately.

Here’s the fine print: You, the contractor, are responsible for unloading the truck or trailer. Our driver is there to help, but you must have people and the proper equipment on site to unload the material.

Coniferous evergreen shrubs can be used for foundation plantings, hedges, screening, topiary or a stand-alone focal point, and if planted in the right location, they never disappoint. Narrow, wide, tall, or short and in shades of silvery blue to green to yellow, evergreen shrubs bring four-season appeal and must be included in any quality landscape design. 

Chamaecyparis brings many questions each year, and I’ll highlight some of our favorites.

Chamaecyperis obtusa - Hinoki Falsecypress: The obtusas have flattened sprays of arborvitae-like foliage. There are dozens of varieties available to the trade. These are the ones we try to carry every season.

C. obtusa ‘Aurea’: Full-size golden variety with spreading, graceful branches. The outer foliage is golden with a green interior. Can grow up to 12" per year. Use as a specimen or in a group as a focal point.

C. obtusa ‘Nana Aurea': Dwarf version of 'Aurea'. Slow growth rate of 1-6" per year. Maintains golden color all year long. High impact in a small package!

C. obtusa ‘Crippsii’: Broadly conical with spreading branches and pendant sprays of bright, yellow foliage. Best in sunny or partially sunny areas. Good winter color. Excellent specimen. Growth rate up to 12" per year.

C. obtusa ‘Gracilis’: Broadly pyramidal and compact, the dark green lacy foliage is elegantly swirled. The rate is moderate, averaging 6-12" per year. It can reach 5-10' in ten years. Stunning specimen plant.

C. obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’: Dwarf version of 'Gracilis', growing 1-6" per year. The rich green color makes it a focal point in any landscape design. An irregularly globose form that is beautiful pruned or natural. A favorite of bonsai artists.

Chamaecyparis pisifera - Threadleaf Falsecypress

C. pisifera ‘Filifera Aurea Nana’: This beauty is not a genuine dwarf, but a slow growing cultivar that can reach a height of six feet, though that is not common here in Michigan. Bright greenish-yellow to golden whip-like leaves and branches that grown into a haystack mound, this popular plant is hard to keep in stock!  ‘Golden Mop’ is a mutation of ‘Aurea Nana’ and a true dwarf. Other cultivars we carry are ‘Golden Charm’, ‘Golden Mop’, ‘King’s Gold’,  and ‘Lemon Thread’. We stock them all, but not all the time.

We are always looking for plants that will make your design stand out and these varieties deserve your attention:

Juniper chinensis ‘Daubs Frosted’: Light golden-yellow new growth matures to soft feathery bluish-green. We will have some this year on standard.

Thuja plicata 'Whipcord': Hard to believe that this is an Arborvitae! 'Whipcord' is a dwarf selection of Western Red Cedar. It's a slow grower, getting only about 3' wide in ten years. The unsual whip-like branchlets give it a soft, mop-like appearance, making this a fun accent plant in the landscape.

In closing, evergreen shrubs are an important element in any good landscape design. Next time you’re in the Plant Center have a look at the new varieties, and the great selection of ornamental conifers we carry. We are always looking for plants that will make your design stand out.

On my commute to work I pass a recently landscaped site that has a lot of plants still sporting their plastic tags.

I say "recent" but I really mean SEVERAL MONTHS. Seeing those tags flapping in the wind really detracted from a very nice landscape job!

Nursery growers and re-wholesalers put tags on plants for identification, not for decoration. I can see leaving the tag on for a few days on a residential job so the homeowner knows what was planted. But you probably gave them a landscape plan with everything identified on it, making those bright plastic tags unnecessary. On some commercial jobs I’ve seen tags left on for years, until they weathered off. It's not a good look.

Not only does the tag look bad, it is unhealthy for the plant. Plastic tags can girdle branches on trees, and large portions of smaller shrubs. I have personally removed tags that have become embedded in the bark as the plant grew. It does take a few extra minutes, but having your crew take those tags off will make your install look as professional as it should. Have them do this as the parting site-cleanup as they remove scraps of burlap, lengths of tagging ribbon, and snarls of tying twine. You want your client - and all his friends and neighbors - to admire your work without distraction.

There aren't too many landscapers that get by without a good wheelbarrow. This essential tool has been improved upon in many ways and there are a lot of variations these days. Modifications have been made to make the wheelbarrow even more versatile and user-friendly than ever before. Some features increase the weight capacity while others improve the stability and maneuverability of the traditional one-wheeled wheelbarrow.

One of our more popular wheelbarrows is the Excavator. The metal tub and all-welded frame makes it a real workhorse on landscape job sites. The front of the Excavator has a unique design that eliminates catching on the ground when maneuvering. Flat free tires are also available for sale that will fit this model.

Are you interested in boosting your sales and barely break a sweat? How about adding decorative lighting the easy way? Idea: add lighting to a patio, an outdoor kitchen, pergola, gazebo, deck or any outdoor living area. Here are two products that can enhance just about any project you have going - or refresh a completed one.

Decostrand from Halco Lighting Technologies is an LED-friendly weatherproof decorative lighting strand that can create a distinctive look to nearly any outdoor space. It operates from a standard, 3 prong 120 volt electrical outlet, so there’s no need to splice into an existing landscape lighting system, and is available in two lengths: 26’ with 12 lamp sockets, and 50’ with 25 sockets.

They are 100% LED compatible. You can lamp them with our 2 watt 150 lumen Halco lamps in either 2700k (natural white) or 2200k (warm white). Other lamps are available as special orders.

A variety of reflector options are available in antique brass, silver, copper, as well as textured bronze and black and multiple strands can be connected end-to-end up to ten strands, based on 4 watt LED lamps.

DecoStrands qualify to receive our current lighting tier discounts for additional savings.

Click here for the manufacturer fact sheet.

From Alliance lighting we bring you the iTimer (Intelligent Astronomical Timer). This little device can make something old seem new again, or satisfy a techie’s hunger for the next latest and greatest doo-dad to show off to the neighbors.

Through the IT app, the unit synchronizes with the time in your region through the global astronomical clock. You may set up your device to turn on and off from sunset to sundown, or to operate for a set amount of hours per day, but in my opinion, the BEST option about this is that you can have it operate at specific times of the day, on whatever day you choose.

For example, let’s say that you want your device on at 7pm and off at 11pm Monday through Thursday, but you want it on from 8pm to 3am on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday you'll take it easy on the neighbors and have it on at sunset and off after 6 hours. Yes, you can easily set up your iTimer this way. Another neat option: you can have turn your connected device on and off a little bit before sunrise and sunset, without ever updating the time. And of course, you can also control the power manually from your phone, regardless of what day or time it is.

But there is one more benefit that I’d like to add: if you have an existing landscape lighting system, you can still use the iTimer - simply set your system to the always ON setting, and plug the transformer into the iTimer.

These two products will have an immediate impact on both new projects and previously completed jobs. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to install and set up. Both of these products are set up on display and for demonstrations at our Hardscape Center, so please stop in and check them out.

Did you hear? The Pantone color of the Year is "Ultra Violet". Interestingly, both the Landscape Perennial of the Year and the 2018 Shrub of the Year feature violet tones in flower or leaf. Take a closer look, you won't be disappointed!

Purple, violet, lavender, or wine - this color brings in a whole new concept to plant choices and themes for spring. You can work this color into bold designs with yellows, whites, or reds, or create a soothing palette using grays and cream to soften. The choices are abundant when incorporating textures, shades, and different heights to the landscape.

2018 Perennial Plant of the year - Alium ‘Millenium’

What a smart choice for spring. Deer and rabbit resistant but loved by butterflies and bees, this mounded compact allium is a beautiful addition to any landscape. 'Millenium' offers glossy green foliage and rosy purple 2” globe flowers with a maximum plant size at 20” x 15”. It is a perfect size to be a border plant, blend into rock gardens, or alone in a clump to offer texture and color. Easy to grow in moist soils, happy in part shade to full sun, and requires low water needs.

2018 Landscape Plant of the Year- Weigela Spilled Wine^®

This petite delight is a beauty in most landscapes. Dark wine-colored foliage pops against other plantings and structures. From the first leaves of spring the foliage remains dark and intense all season long. Not preferred by deer but enjoyed by butterflies and hummingbirds, the. tubular magenta flowers bloom for a long period beginning in late spring. Easy to grow, this compact bush measures 2-3’ tall x 2-4’ wide. This is an improved, compact version of the popular Wine & Roses^® Weigela and the wide, low habit can be useful almost anywhere in the landscape.